December 21 vs. Boston University (1 p.m.)
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LOWELL, Mass. - Back in action following a 10-day break for finals, the UMass Lowell men's basketball team will host Boston University on Saturday in its last non-conference home game of the season.   Â
A WIN WOULD
A win on Saturday would be the River Hawks' third in the last four meetings against the Terriers to even the all-time series. It would also put the team's record above .500 for the first time this year. Â
LAST TIME OUT
Junior
Obadiah Noel logged 16 points, as UMass Lowell pulled out another close decision, this time by a score of 72-66 at NJIT on Dec. 11. Nine different UMass Lowell players scored in the outing, including five in double-digits. Junior
Jordyn Owens chipped in with 12 points and a game-high six assists, while freshman
Connor Withers, and graduate students
Josh Gantz and
Christian Lutete added 10 points apiece. Although there were 11 lead changes, the River Hawks led for the vast majority of the game. The Highlanders used a late run to take the upper hand inside of the final seven minutes, but it would be the last time, as UMass Lowell used solid free throw shooting to secure the outcome.
LEADING THE FLOCK
Through 12 games,
Christian Lutete is leading the team with 19.4 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.
Obadiah Noel follows with 15.6 points and a team-best 15 steals.
Josh Gantz adds 9.0 points per game.
Jordyn Owens paces the squad with 38 assists, while Withers boasts a team-best 14 blocks.
SCOUTING BOSTON UNIVERSITY
The Terriers, who are 4-7 so far this year, snapped a five-game skid with a 78-76 victory against Dartmouth on Dec. 14. Max Mahoney paces the team with 14.5 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. Javante McCoy has dished out a team-best 34 assists, while Walter Whyte totals 12 steals and seven blocks. As a unit, BU is shooting 44 percent from the field and 31 percent from long range.
ON A ROLL
The River Hawks have now won four of their last five games to improve to .500 overall (6-6).
TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT
This season, a total of five of the team's games have been decided by five points or less. Since beginning 2014-15, 31 of the squad's 64 wins have been decided by seven points or less. The team has also trailed in the second half in 36 games during that same time frame before battling back to earn the victories. Â
SPREADING THE LOVE
For the third time already this year, a season-high five players scored in double-digits in the win at NJIT.
BACK AND FORTH WE GO
The team is used to back-and-forth battles this season with six games so far featuring nine or more lead changes, including a season-high 19 lead changes in the win against CCSU on Dec. 1.
BEST ON THE BLOCK
Connor Withers matched a Division I program record with four blocks against St. Francis Brooklyn on Dec. 7. He leads the team with 14 blocks already this year.
CLOSING IN ON A MILESTONE
Two more River Hawks are closing in on the prestigious 1,000 Point Club, including
Josh Gantz, who need 126 more points.
TOUGH TO BEAT
Even when the games haven't fallen their way this season, the River Hawks have proven they are a tough opponent to face, as four of the team's losses so far have been by five points or less. Three of those four games were decided on the final possession.
SHARP SHOOTERS
The River Hawks, who are shooting a league-best 45.9 percent from the floor, have shot better than 45 percent on field goals six times this season, including a 59.3 percent clip against St. Francis Brooklyn.
CRASHING THE BOARDS
The River Hawks have started 2019-20 stronger than ever on the boards and are currently third in the America East with 38.7 rebounds per game, in addition to a +2.9 rebounding margin, as well.
HELPING HANDS
Jordyn Owens dished out a personal-best seven assists against both CCSU (12.1) and Sacred Heart (12.4), setting a new single-game high for the team this season. Owens paces the team with 38 assists in 2019-20. As a team, the River Hawks are currently ranked first in the America East with a 1.12 assist/turnover margin.
COMEBACK KIDS
The young UMass Lowell squad has shown its resiliency this season, battling back to erase double-digit deficits four times. The largest margin the team overcame was 19 points against Dartmouth on Nov. 17. The River Hawks have also won two of those four contests, most recently defeating Brown after trailing by 12 on Nov. 26.
HOME COURT ADVANTAGE
This season, UMass Lowell has a record 17 home games, including an eight-game homestand. With its sixth consecutive win in a home opener this season and a 4-4 record during that homestand, the team is now 134-80 in front of River Hawk Nation since 2003-04.
PLAYING AT TSONGAS
For the first time ever, all of the River Hawks home conference games will be played at Tsongas, as the team will play record 11 games in the arena this year. With a victory against CCSU in the team's Tsongas debut for 2019-20 and sitting at 1-1 in the building this year, the team is now 9-20 all time in Tsongas.
